BookView Review

Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we talked to Armanis Ar-feinial about his writing and recently released book, A Siren’s Call: An Oath Breaker’s beginning (The Dawn of Forest Black Book 4), a fast-paced fantasy that thrusts readers into a high-stakes adventure with a fallen paladin. (Read the review here).

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

*hisses* far too many and more than I have outlined. I have about 5 in the My Holy Grail Saga that have not yet been published. I’m working on a fantasy horror grimdark, if you want to call it that which is half finishes sort of. That one’s ambitious. Inspired by Jane Austen, funny enough. As far as Dawn of Forest Black Goes, I have several shorter novellas that aren’t published yet AT the time of this interview. They will be published shortly though relatively quickly when they’re ready.

Do you try to be original or to deliver readers what they want?

I think readers like things that are more or less new. Obviously, the Dawn of Forest Black wears the inspiration on its sleeve, and well, you’ll have to read it to find out what I mean, but I have been compared to a certain favorite author of mine. That said, my philosophy with books, or art in general is that there is nothing new under the sun. Tropes exist and we simply can’t transcend beyond that. Therefore, nothing I write by definition will be original, but what can be different, is the execution and subversion of tropes, which is what I aim to do. I write what I like to write, and that’s it. I don’t write tropes and it’s a major pain for me to tell you what tropes are in my works because I know just as much as you do!

How do you name your characters?

It’s an old trade. What you do is get plastered drunk, and then go trip on some acid. . . No, I don’t do that. Depends on the project honestly, and what names work best I generally try to cater to the language and types of languages I expect their origins from. I do write contemporary, so sometimes I go into my old year book and point at a rando.

Do you read your book reviews?

Before I answer that, I fully admit and adhere to the idea that book reviews are for readers, not so much the writers. I do appreciate them, and I do like reading them, even the not so nice ones. However, I retain a very strict, “DO NOT ENGAGE” policy with book reviews. I have broken this rule once because the reviewer accused me of using AI, which I do not do, and because of my stance on AI, and what it would do to my reputation as an author, I felt I was in the right to politely advise, I do not use AI in anything I use or do.

What’s more important, characters or Plot?

Characters. Plot is good sometimes, and I don’t mind a plot filled book like Malazan, but Abercrombie’s First Law made me appreciate characters and he ruined some classics for me. I’ll never look at Lord of the Rings the same way ever again.

How do you begin a book?

I start with an outline. Depending on the outline and the story I’m telling, the outline could be quite large. I mentioned a massive grimdark horror fantasy that I’m presently working on, and so far with many re-writes and realizations, and so far, this project has taken me about 7 years and it’s not even done yet, but the outline exceeds 10,000 words for 150 chapters! Normally a full-length novel will take me about a month maybe two if I’m consistent or its length to write the first draft. I’ve recently been writing a lot of novellas lately, and I start similarly, but my outlines are much less dense and only take me about a day or two to write.

Which scene, character or plotline changed the most from first draft to published book?

I would say Atori’s Story changed the most and I like it more. Ha, I remember my editor finished the story, and she send me a message to the effect of, “I’m Shook” and that made me proud. The initial draft didn’t have that kind of effect because she was just an “old grumpy grandma,” kind of character. I can’t talk about it, but this was special for me. I liked the direction this ultimately took.

How does your faith outlook inform your writing?

This goes back to the beginning, and even kind of related to the previous question, isn’t it? When I was younger I was a devout Christian, and I still am, but I’ve adapted in what I normally would. You see, I held myself to a standard that I wouldn’t write anything that some might consider depraved or have you, and even my depictions of graphic violence was toned down considerably. Over the last few years, while I still follow my faith, in terms of writing I have removed my morale compass, which has resulted in a more diverse range of characters. I don’t think of myself as writing down a story as much as I’m recording history.

How did you decide on a title?

I mean, doesn’t “The Dawn of Forest Black” just have a nice ring to it? I think so. This is a series that exists in 13 parts, and some of these parts seem to not have to do with the same main story line. In fact, I did my best to write this series where you could jump in at almost any point. Key Word, almost. For example, this is the second volume consisting of 3 novellas. There are two entry points. You can read “Stone of Immortality” which stands fine by itself, and “The Siren’s Call” is another entry point. You would not jump in to “A Nymph’s Love” without book 3, but you don’t need book 4 to read book 5. Volume two consisted of 2 full-length, albeit short, novels. You can read this collection of 3 books without reading the first two novels. So, already, you have 3 starting points in a total of 5 different books so far, and more is still coming. The theme matches the title of this book. A lush green forest with the possibility of it turning “Black” as the title of this saga suggests, and I’ve even hinted at. I am afraid to say more without giving away something you might want to be surprised with.

What’s next for you?

I think I might have hinted at my projects but I have SOOOO many things that’s sitting on my back burner. I’ve mentioned my Holy Grail Saga, and that still has several books and stories I haven’t even outlined yet. The land of Alkathos(World of Dawn of Forest Black) has other stories that will follow these characters for many years to come, or as fast as I write them. But I’ll give you a sneak peak at what I plan, and ultimately, I will make it happen, it’s just a matter of when, and that is the existence of graphic novels and ultimately a short web series, and maybe some games along the lines of Telltale. This is like everyone’s dream right? To see their works on the film or even some cinematic. I want that. I crave it. But that will be some time down the road.

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